Memorial

Gu Chengyin kept his mouth tightly shut, only nodding slightly to indicate he had heard, but he did not speak.

Emperor Luo gathered his thoughts, which had been led astray by Gu Chengyin.

He handed the memorial in his hand to Lyu Fang and instructed,

"Take a look at this memorial first, and tell me your thoughts."

Lyu Fang received the memorial with both hands, walked briskly over to Luo Zhao, and bowed as he presented it to her.

Luo Zhao took the memorial, unfolded it, and her eyes quickly scanned the text.

A moment later, she closed the memorial. Her face revealed no emotion as she handed it back to Lyu Fang.

Lyu Fang turned around and handed the memorial to Gu Chengyin.

Gu Chengyin likewise accepted it with both hands and opened it.

The contents were not complicated; in fact, they were quite brief and clear:

"Your subject respectfully reports: In order to pilot the new policy of 'converting fields to mines,' I have surveyed many places. Only Shuishan City in Chuting Commandery boasts superior geography, honest and simple folk, and convenient transportation."

"I earnestly beseech Imperial Father to grant permission to use this place as the pilot zone for the new policy. I beg for Your Majesty's decree."

The signature belonged to the Second Prince, Luo Yanchen, and the date was today.

Gu Chengyin's gaze paused for a moment on the name Shuishan City of Chuting Commandery. Then, expressionless, he closed the memorial and handed it back to Lyu Fang.

Throughout the entire process, he did not say a single word, not even twitching an eyebrow.

Luo Zhao had already raised her eyes while Gu Chengyin was reading the memorial.

Once Gu Chengyin returned the memorial, she spoke,

"Imperial Father, I believe that since Chuting Commandery is adjacent to Capital Luo, and Shuishan City is one of the southeastern transportation hubs for the capital, both its waterways and land routes are convenient."

"The Second Prince must have chosen this place for its transportation and commercial convenience. It will facilitate the deployment of personnel and the transport of materials during the initial stages of the new policy, and allow the output to quickly enter circulation."

Her analysis was very objective, sounding entirely based on the practical aspects of implementing the new policy as she pointed out the geographical advantages of Shuishan City.

After listening, Emperor Luo did not express his stance. He merely turned his gaze to Gu Chengyin.

The meaning was obvious: It is your turn.

However, Gu Chengyin stood there like a wooden stump, his eyes looking at his nose, and his nose looking at his heart.

His lips were pressed tightly together, as if he hadn't received Emperor Luo's visual signal at all.

Silence fell once more within the warm pavilion.

Emperor Luo stared at Gu Chengyin.

Gu Chengyin stared intently at the tips of his own boots.

Neither of them spoke, making the atmosphere somewhat bizarre.

In the end, it was Lyu Fang who figured it out. He hurriedly stepped forward, bowed, and cautiously reminded,

"Your Majesty, you just gave the golden decree for Marquis Gu to shut his mouth."

"Marquis Gu dares not defy the imperial decree, so... he cannot speak." After saying this, Lyu Fang stole a glance at Gu Chengyin.

Emperor Luo: "..."

Immediately after, he was angered into a laugh by Gu Chengyin's act of playing dumb.

He pointed a finger at Gu Chengyin and scolded with a laugh,

"You, Gu Chengyin! You are usually as shrewd as a ghost, but now you are playing the fool in front of me, aren't you?"

He put away his smile and leaned forward slightly. Although there was still a hint of a smile on his face, his eyes suddenly became sharp:

"If you still refuse to open your mouth..."

Emperor Luo paused, a dangerous curve tugging at the corner of his lips:

"I will send you to the castration room to serve as a eunuch! From then on, you can exclusively serve by my side handling pen and ink, which will save you from stirring up trouble outside all day long!"

Gu Chengyin's eyelids twitched violently, and he immediately raised his head.

His face was instantly filled with a terrified expression as he hurriedly bowed and said,

"Your Majesty, forgive me! I am dull-witted! I failed to grasp the imperial intent for a moment!"

Gu Chengyin cleared his throat, straightened his back, and parted his lips slightly, looking as if he was about to pour out the brilliant strategies hidden in his chest.

However, it was as if something was stuck in his throat, and he let out a few vague sounds of "Uh... Um...".

His gaze shifted around, and his brows were furrowed tightly. He looked like he wanted to say something but stopped, appearing extremely conflicted.

After hemming and hawing for a long time, he finally seemed to make up his mind. He bowed deeply and said with utmost trepidation,

"Reporting to Your Majesty, I... I am an honest man."

Gu Chengyin raised his head, looking at Emperor Luo with clear eyes, trying hard to prove his straightforwardness. "In my dictionary, the word 'lie' does not exist, and I certainly do not know what it means to flatter and fawn."

"Therefore, no matter what I say, it comes straight from the bottom of my heart. I call it as I see it, and I absolutely dare not deceive Your Majesty in the slightest!"

"And precisely because of this... I dare not speak."

Emperor Luo looked at Gu Chengyin. Not only was he not angry, but his eyes instead revealed a deep interest.

He leaned forward slightly and asked with great interest,

"Oh? It is merely a site selection. Just speak your mind. What is there to be afraid of saying?"

Emperor Luo changed the subject, carrying a hint of amusement. "Gu Chengyin, I remember when you were in the Ministry of Revenue, in the Grand Secretariat, and at the Shangguan Residence."

"You did not have this attitude."

Upon hearing this, Gu Chengyin immediately straightened his back. His face shifted to an expression of awe-inspiring righteousness, and his voice rose a little as he retorted,

"Your Majesty is perceptive! My words and actions in the Ministry of Revenue, the Grand Secretariat, and the Shangguan Residence were all well-founded, reasonable, and measured!"

"They were for Your Majesty, for the imperial court, and also for Her Highness!"

"But regarding the Second Prince's memorial requesting the policy of converting fields to mines... I know very little and have a shallow understanding of it."

"I have not conducted in-depth research on how this new policy will be specifically implemented, what its pros and cons are, or what the true situation in Shuishan City is."

"To casually draw conclusions and make arbitrary comments without understanding or being clear about the facts..."

"This would not only be irresponsible to myself, but even more irresponsible to Her Highness's reputation!"

"Furthermore, I am naturally honest, so whatever I say will definitely be what I truly think. Therefore, I dare not speak recklessly, Your Majesty!"

After listening, Emperor Luo's gaze lingered on Gu Chengyin's face for a moment before slowly shifting to Luo Zhao, who was standing to the side.

The warm pavilion fell into silence for a moment.

Suddenly, as if Emperor Luo had given up on the matter of the memorial, he threw out a seemingly casual question.

"Since that is the case, I will change the question. What do you think of Zhao'er?"

This question directly asked Gu Chengyin to evaluate Luo Zhao.

Luo Zhao's eyelashes fluttered for a second, but she continued to stand quietly with lowered eyes, as if the matter had nothing to do with her.

Gu Chengyin immediately blurted out,

"Her Highness is peerless in her elegance and talent, unmatched in this world. She is the indisputable candidate for the Crown Heir of our Great Luo. I admire her immensely."

Emperor Luo was not surprised by this answer, and he immediately threw out a second question:

"Then what about Yanchen?"

The 'honest man' expression on Gu Chengyin's face instantly froze, revealing obvious hesitation and struggle.

His lips moved as if he wanted to speak, but he forcibly held it back. His gaze wandered, not daring to meet Emperor Luo's eyes.

Emperor Luo took in his reaction entirely and unhurriedly added another sentence:

"Gu Chengyin, do not forget that you are an honest man."

Gu Chengyin seemed to be nailed in place by these words. He remained silent for a long while before finally speaking slowly and clearly:

"The Second Prince... possesses deep shrewdness; he is a hidden dragon in the abyss."

After hearing this, a satisfied look finally appeared on Emperor Luo's face.

He leaned back, lightly tapping his fingers on the imperial desk, and said,

"But in the eyes of the court and the common people, Yanchen doesn't seem to be as you describe."

Hearing this, Gu Chengyin defended him as a matter of course:

"Your Majesty, the common people do not know the truth and make wild guesses. They are nothing more than summer insects trying to discuss ice."

Emperor Luo remained noncommittal, giving a faint hum of acknowledgment.

He casually tossed the memorial regarding Shuishan City to a corner of the imperial desk and said meaningfully,

"If Yanchen knew of your opinion of him, I imagine he would be quite pleased."

Emperor Luo paused, his gaze sweeping over Gu Chengyin. "After all, there are not many who would praise him in such a manner."

Before Gu Chengyin could ponder the meaning behind those words, Emperor Luo shifted his gaze to Lyu Fang and ordered,

"Bring it out."

Lyu Fang immediately bowed in compliance. "Yes, Your Majesty."

He turned and retrieved a scroll of bright yellow silk from a box beside the imperial desk.

It was an imperial edict.